He was a boatman from Middleham, Lynmouth. he was last seen at 10.30pm on the Friday night on the road to his house in Middleham which was a hamlet adjoining Lynmouth. His disappearance caused a sensation and the River Lyn was dragged after it was thought that he might have fallen in as his way home was by the riverside path.

The beach was also searched as it was thought that he might have gone to the harbour to attend to his boat and met with some mishap.

At the time it was thought that he might have been suffering from loss of memory.

He was said to have been a great favourite to all who knew him and was the second coxswain of the Lynmouth lifeboat.

When he was found washed ashore on the opposite side of the Bristol Channel he was found to still have £2 on his body which was the amount thought to have been in his possession at the time.

His body was missing a leg which was thought to have been severed by the propeller of a steamer.

At his inquest an open verdict was returned. The Coroner said that there was some mystery about the affair.

*map pointers are rough estimates based on known location details as per Place field above.